Feline heartworm disease: a ‘Rubik's-cube-like’ diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

Venco, Luigi; Marchesotti, Federica; Manzocchi, Simone

doi:10.1016/j.jvc.2015.08.004

Cited by 42 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Therefore, a negative result does not rule out an infection from male worms, pre-adult worms or a single female adult worm, most of which are common in cats [24, 25]. On the other hand, antibody tests detect antibodies produced by the host in response to infection, which therefore can remain positive for a long time after the death of the parasite and do not differentiate a current or a past infection [24, 26]. Given the natural resistance of the feline host to heartworm infection, it is estimated that the feline dirofilariosis is 5–20% of that of the canine population in the same area [27, 28], and feline heartworm reported in the present study is within these ranges.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of heartworm in dogs and cats of Madrid, Spain

et al. 2017

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Background Dirofilaria immitis causes heartworm disease, a chronic and potentially fatal cardiopulmonary disease which mainly affects dogs and cats. It is present in most of Spain, due to favourable climatic factors. Madrid, located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, is the most highly populated city in the country. There is a lack of current data on canine heartworm and there are no published epidemiological data regarding feline heartworm in this region, therefore the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and current distribution of canine and feline dirofilariosis in the province of Madrid.MethodsSerum samples from 1716 dogs and 531 cats, from animals living in the metropolitan area of Madrid and adjacent areas, were studied. All the samples, either from cats and dogs, were tested for circulating D. immitis antigens using a commercial immunochromatographic test kit. Furthermore, to establish the seroprevalence of heartworm infection in cats, serological techniques for anti-D. immitis and anti-Wolbachia antibody detection were used.ResultsPrevalence of D. immitis in the canine population of Madrid was 3%, showing an increase in comparison to previous data. The presence of heartworm in the city centre could be influenced by the presence of Urban Heat Islands, while the positive dogs from metropolitan and adjacent areas were mainly located under the influence of rivers. Regarding cats, 0.2% were positive to the antigens test and 7.3% were seropositive to both anti-D. immitis and Wolbachia surface protein antibodies, which demonstrate the presence of feline heartworm in Madrid. Seropositive cats were present in the same areas where positive dogs were found. Indoor/outdoor cats showed the highest seroprevalence whereas the lowest corresponded to indoor cats, demonstrating that prophylactic treatments should be carried out regardless of lifestyle. Infection was found in 2.2% of dogs and 6.7% of the cats < 1 year-old, which indicates that early preventive campaigns in puppies and kittens should be implemented.ConclusionsThe results point to the need for adequate prophylactic measures through the administration of macrocyclic lactones in animals living in Madrid. Veterinarians should be aware of the presence of this disease and include heartworm in the differential diagnosis when a pet presents with symptoms compatible with D. immitis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of heartworm in dogs and cats of Madrid, Spain

et al. 2017

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“…Regarding heart worms, the Dirofilaria immitis prevalence in endemic areas in cats is supposed to correlate with that in dogs (Venco et al, 2011). Cats are considered imperfect hosts that may harbour immature or adult stages measuring several centimetres which are located in the right heart and the pulmonary artery or at ectopic localisations (Venco et al, 2015). Laboratory diagnosis in cats is challenging as antigen detection is insufficient and because cats are often amicrofilaraemic (Atkins et al, 2008;Genchi et al, 2008), meaning that they cannot be identified based on the detection of microfilariae in blood samples.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First case of a natural infection in a domestic cat (Felis catus) with the canid heart worm Angiostrongylus vasorum

Gueldner

Schuppisser

Borel

et al. 2019

Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports

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“…Since heartworm infections in cats usually have a small number of worms and are of relatively short duration, pulmonary hypertension development is less common in cats as compared to dogs [20]. Considering the absence of right ventricular hypertrophy in the cat of the present report, the hypothesis of pulmonary artery dissection consequent to pulmonary hypertension seems unlikely.…”

Section: Iris-apertomentioning

confidence: 52%

“…Domestic cats can be infected with heartworms in a similar manner as dogs, even if the frequency of infection is lower and the heartworm's lifespan is shorter [19]. There are two main phases of infection: (1) the arrival of immature worms in the pulmonary arterial vessels and (2) the death of adult heartworms [20]. Generally, most of the immature worms reach the caudal pulmonary arteries, die and induce a strong vascular and parenchymal inflammatory response known as heartworm-associated respiratory disease [19].…”

Section: Iris-apertomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, most of the immature worms reach the caudal pulmonary arteries, die and induce a strong vascular and parenchymal inflammatory response known as heartworm-associated respiratory disease [19]. Adult heartworms seem to have an anti-inflammatory effect that minimizes clinical signs in infected cats [20] and the animals may be asymptomatic until they show acute respiratory distress or sudden death caused by deterioration, death, and embolization of worms or worm fragments [19].…”

Section: Iris-apertomentioning

confidence: 99%

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